KS3 · Physical education · Year 9
Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation: flexibility
Athletics: fitness development of pace or power
Learn it. Recall it. Make it stick.
IllumED Slides
IllumED · 1/10
Your learning goal
I can safely perform PNF stretches with a partner and explain how it can help my training.
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Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation: flexibility: slides adapted from the imported teaching text; recall questions created from its keywords, learning points and common mistakes. Self-check practice, with no automatic grading or XP. Answers stay on this page and are cleared when you leave.
What you’ll learn
I can safely perform PNF stretches with a partner and explain how it can help my training.
Key learning points
- Move: increasing overload using FITT pushes the body beyond its current level.
- Move: combining stretches and muscular contractions is required to perform proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.
- Think: reflecting on the effectiveness of adjustments using the FITT principle ensures appropriate progression.
- Feel: having courage to trust a partner enables a wider range of performance enhancing stretches.
- Connect: working in pairs with clear communication and trust helps pupils to stretch safely and effectively.
Words to know
- PNF
- a type of partner assisted stretching that combines muscle contractions with deep stretching to improve flexibility
- contraction
- tensing or shortening of a muscle
- overload
- working the body harder than it is used to, so it adapts and gets fitter
Common mistakes
PNF can sometimes be confused as a partner simply helping to deepen the stretch by pushing a bit further.
The method of contracting the muscle activates the nervous system which helps improve flexibility more effectively than static stretching alone.
For parents, carers and teachers
- Judging the trustworthiness of pupils is important with PNF. A yoga session could be a safer alternative.